Opposite dugout: Braves trying to keep Nats from clinching NL East in Atlanta

Opposite dugout: Braves trying to keep Nats from clinching NL East in Atlanta
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 75-74 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.293/.390/.476, 41 doubles, 18 HR, 73 RBIs, 90 R); LF Justin Upton (.277/.351/.502, 32 doubles, 27 HR, 96 RBIs); LHP Alex Wood (10-10, 2.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP); RHP Ervin Santana (14-8, 3.76 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 10-6, 64 runs scored, 48 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 15: Ervin Santana vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 16: Aaron Harang vs. Tanner Roark, 7...
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Opposite dugout: Braves hope to seize chance to get back in NL East race

Opposite dugout: Braves hope to seize chance to get back in NL East race
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 74-69 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Justin Upton (.284/.359/.511, 31 doubles, 26 HR, 91 RBIs); 1B Freddie Freeman (.289/.386/.473, 38 doubles, 18 HR, 70 RBIs, 89 R); RHP Ervin Santana (14-7, 3.61 ERA, 1.27 WHIP); LHP Mike Minor (6-9, 4.65 ERA, 1.41 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 9-4, 53 runs scored, 38 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 8: Mike Minor vs. Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Sept. 9: Ervin Santana vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m.,...
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Opposite dugout: Braves hope to halt slide with critical home series against Nats

Opposite dugout: Braves hope to halt slide with critical home series against Nats
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 58-56 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: C Evan Gattis (.279/.337/.522, 13 doubles, 17 HR, 43 RBIs); LF Justin Upton (.281/.350/.496, 27 doubles, 19 HR, 64 RBIs); RHP Ervin Santana (10-6, 3.59 ERA, 1.25 WHIP); LHP Alex Wood (7-9, 3.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 7-3, 42 runs scored, 27 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 8: Ervin Santana vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7:30 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 9: Aaron Harang vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN2...
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A chance to open things up

A chance to open things up
Don't look now, but the Nationals have their largest division lead since the end of the 2012 season. Yesterday's win over the Phillies coupled with Atlanta's loss to the Padres gave the Nats a 3 1/2 game lead in the National League East. That's the widest margin between a first- and second-place team in the NL. Currently, the Tigers are the only division-leading team in the majors with a larger lead. Detroit is five games up over the Royals in the American League Central. The Nats have...
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Nationals look to get on the board in series vs. Braves (Nats win 3-0)

Nationals look to get on the board in series vs. Braves (Nats win 3-0)
The Nationals step into Game 3 of their series against the Braves searching for a win. They have not defeated Atlanta since a 2-1 win on April 6. Starter Doug Fister got out a jam in the first inning with some sterling defense from second baseman Danny Espinosa. With men on first and third and two out, Espinosa grabbed Jason Heyward's hot shot right up the middle and flipped to shortstop Ian Desmond covering the bag at second to get Freddie Freeman. Atlanta did not score in the inning. The...
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Even vs. Strasburg, Braves start with upper hand (Atlanta wins 6-4 in 13th)

Even vs. Strasburg, Braves start with upper hand (Atlanta wins 6-4 in 13th)
The Nationals need their stopper to come through. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is attempting to slow the Braves roll against his team. The Nationals have lost four straight against the Braves, and six of their last seven overall. I won't mention 2013. You're welcome. Strasburg has made 13 starts against Atlanta. His last win against the Braves was August 21, 2012. The Braves got the first run of the game again. In the first inning with two outs, Freddie Freeman launched a long fly ball...
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Williams won't let recent difficulty against Braves cloud preparation

Williams won't let recent difficulty against Braves cloud preparation
The Braves have now won six of the first seven games against the Nationals this season following Thursday's 3-0 series-opening win. The Nationals have lost four straight against Atlanta, with their only victory a 2-1 decision April 6. Nationals manager Matt Williams said he takes the series with the Braves one game at a time and will not let the recent downslide against Atlanta cloud his team's preparations for tonight. Williams said Gavin Floyd's curveball last night was as one reason why...
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Trying to find a reason for the troubles against Atlanta

Trying to find a reason for the troubles against Atlanta
The Nationals came into this four-game series against the Braves having won 12 of their last 16 games. They sent Jordan Zimmermann, a guy who had allowed just one run in his last 26 innings, to the mound last night. The Braves entered the series losers of 13 of their previous 21. They had just gotten swept by the Phillies in Atlanta, and were playing last night's game without left fielder Justin Upton, who didn't start because of dizziness. Even though a number of factors seemed to be in...
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Nationals and Braves under way in NL East battle (Braves won 3-0)

Nationals and Braves under way in NL East battle (Braves won 3-0)
The much anticipated Nationals versus Braves series is upon us. Atlanta has won five of the first six meetings between the two clubs this year and had held the top spot in the division until a recent downward turn. The Nationals bounced back from a four-game skid to post a pair of 6-5 wins against Houston to begin the homestand. But this is the Braves, and the Nationals have a combined record of 3-10 record against Atlanta and St. Louis this season. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann allowed a...
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Opposite dugout: First place on the line with Braves set to play four in Washington

Opposite dugout: First place on the line with Braves set to play four in Washington
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 36-35 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: C Evan Gattis (.294/.346/.588, 16 HR, 38 RBIs); LF Justin Upton (.278/.351/.510, 14 HR, 13 doubles, 37 RBIs); RHP Julio Teheran (6-4, 2.31 ERA, 0.93 WHIP); RHP Gavin Floyd (1-2, 2.98 ERA) Season series vs. Nats: 5-1, 32 runs scored, 16 runs allowed Pitching probables June 19: Gavin Floyd vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 20: Mike Minor vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD June 21: Julio Teheran vs....
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In come the Braves

In come the Braves
If you happened to miss last night's Nationals win over the Astros, and didn't see right fielder Jayson Werth's tag-avoiding, pop-up-short-of-the-bag slide into second base, I highly suggest you check this out: Your browser does not support iframes. Werth said he knew he was going to be out as he went into his slide, so he switched into self-preservation mode. Somehow, it worked. "I think I've tried that a few different times, and I've never been successful at that," Werth said with a...
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Werth, Span out of Nats lineup

Werth, Span out of Nats lineup
ATLANTA - Jayson Werth, who left last night's game with a tightness in his groin, is out of the Nationals lineup today. Also out of the lineup is Denard Span, who will sit today with the Braves starting left-hander Alex Wood. Werth was pulled from last night's game in the 10th inning, and manager Matt Williams said after the game that Werth would be reevaluated today. We'll wait to get an update on his status. Bryce Harper will play center field today for the Nats, with Nate McLouth...
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Reflecting on a tough loss to a tough division opponent

Reflecting on a tough loss to a tough division opponent
ATLANTA - Last night's game had it all. And then some. Ryan Zimmerman was nearly decapitated by a broken bat, then started a 5-4-3 double play after letting the splintered barrel fly over his head. A ball in play drilled second base umpire Angel Hernandez. Denard Span and Dan Uggla collided between first and second base. Adam LaRoche tried to score from second on a wild pitch and nearly made it. Multiple manager/umpire conversations on close calls. Multiple blown leads. Wackiest game I've...
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Williams discusses Werth's injury, Nats' nutty 7-6 extra-inning loss

Williams discusses Werth's injury, Nats' nutty 7-6 extra-inning loss
ATLANTA - We saw another ridiculously entertaining, tight ballgame between the Nationals and Braves tonight, one filled with twists, turns, quirks and plenty of action. In the end, the Braves picked up a 7-6 walk-off win in the bottom of the 10th, their third win in four Washington-Atlanta games so far this season. It was a wild ballgame, and a weird one, too. "Players trying to score from second. Guys running into each other in the middle of the infield. Strange, yeah," manager Matt Williams...
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Opposite dugout: Braves take on top division rival for last time until June

Opposite dugout: Braves take on top division rival for last time until June
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 5-4 Last 10 games: 5-4 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.419/.514/.677, 2 HR, 5 RBIs); LF Justin Upton (.264/.324/.441, 2 HR, 3 RBIs); RHP Julio Teheran (1-1, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP); RHP Aaron Harang (1-1, 0.71 ERA, 0.71 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 9 runs scored, 5 runs allowed Pitching probables April 11: Julio Teheran vs. Tanner Roark, 7:30 p.m., MASN HD April 12: Alex Wood vs. Taylor Jordan, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 13: Aaron Harang vs. Gio...
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Nationals again score first against the Braves (Nats win 2-1)

Nationals again score first against the Braves (Nats win 2-1)
The Nationals and Braves wrap up their first matchup of the season on Sunday with right-hander Taylor Jordan facing left-hander Alex Wood. The Braves have won 15 of the last 21 games against the Nationals and are 9-2 in that span at Nationals Park. The Nationals scored first and took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a base hit by Jayson Werth. Third baseman Anthony Rendon scored thanks to a throwing error by Braves second baseman Dan Uggla. Manager Matt Williams used a challenge later in the...
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Braves chase Strasburg after early LaRoche homer (Nats lose 6-2)

Braves chase Strasburg after early LaRoche homer (Nats lose 6-2)
As the Nationals and Braves tangle in the second game of their initial three-game set of 2014 on Saturday night in Washington, D.C., right-hander Stephen Strasburg is facing Braves right-hander Julio Teheran. The Nationals opened the scoring with a two-run homer by Adam LaRoche in the first inning. The mammoth shot by LaRoche came on a 2-2 pitch off of Teheran and reached the upper deck down the right field line, landing in what appeared to be the first row above the Jackie Robinson No. 42 sign...
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Opposite dugout: Braves in town to reopen rivalry with Nats

Opposite dugout: Braves in town to reopen rivalry with Nats
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 2-1 Last 10 games: 2-1 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.333/.500/1.000, 2 HR, 2 RBIs); RF Jason Heyward (.250/.308/.500, 1 HR, 2 RBIs); RHP Julio Teheran (1-0, 3.00 ERA); RHP Craig Kimbrel (2 saves, 0.00 ERA) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 13-6, 73 runs scored, 49 runs allowed Pitching probables April 4: David Hale vs. TBA, 1 p.m., MASN HD April 5: Julio Teheran vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 6: Alex Wood vs. Taylor Jordan, 1:30...
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As two-time Tommy John patient, Garcia feels Medlen's pain

As two-time Tommy John patient, Garcia feels Medlen's pain
VIERA, Fla. - Christian Garcia knows what Kris Medlen is going through right now. He knows the disappointment. He knows the frustration. He knows the doubts that might be swirling through Medlen's mind as he wonders if he'll ever pitch at a high level again. Four days ago, Medlen - a talented 28-year-old right-hander with the Braves who won 15 games last year - threw a pitch to Mets first baseman Matt Clark and immediately walked off the mound toward the Atlanta dugout. Medlen, who...
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Are the Nats the team to beat in the NL East?

Are the Nats the team to beat in the NL East?
I went into spring training this year feeling that the Nationals were the favorites in the National League East by a pretty wide margin. I wasn't alone in this line of thinking. In fact, I believe the vast majority of the baseball world was with me. The Nats, after all, were coming off a 98-win season and their first division title in team history, had seemingly improved their roster with the additions of Dan Haren, Rafael Soriano and Denard Span, and would go into the 2013 season having...
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